In Bruges, Belgium at Christmas, I seriously felt like I was transported into a medieval fairytale. The cobblestone streets, the swans in the canals, the medieval architecture, and all of the delicious chocolates were all a part of that fairytale. And, these are just a few reasons why you must experience a Bruges, Belgium Christmas.
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The ENTIRE historic city-center of Bruges, Belgium is a UNESCO World Heritage Site! This means, the historic Bruges city center is legally protected and is designated by UNESCO for having cultural and historical significance. Some buildings have been updated over the years, but the original layout of the town has stayed the same. But, there are still many beautiful buildings to see from hundreds of years ago!
Some people have compared visiting Bruges to visiting Disneyland for better or for worse. I actually like that comparison. I DID feel like I was stepping into a magical fairytale, similar to Disneyland. However, unlike Disneyland, these places and history are real! How cool is that?
The delicious treats (Belgian waffles anyone?) and the canal tours added to that Disney feel. Also, Bruges, Belgium draws a lot of crowds during the Christmas season. Don’t let the crowds deter you though- just be prepared.
Top 10 things to do in Bruges, Belgium at Christmas:
1. The Market Square (Markt):
Market Square is the center of all the action in Bruges. With many sites to see just in this square alone, we found ourselves wandering through a few different times each day.
Snap a pic of the old colorful guild houses:
Market Square is where you will find the cute and colorful guild houses you see all over Instagram and Pinterest. The guild houses are now restaurants with outdoor seating. Eat here if you want a sit-down meal with views of the old belfry!
Search for treasures at the Bruges, Belgium Christmas Market:
The reason I actually chose to visit Bruges during Christmas was because of the Christmas Market in Market Square. I was looking for a European off-the-beaten-path city that also had a Christmas Market.
The Bruges, Belgium Christmas Market is held each year from the end of November through New Years. The atmosphere of the market was fun with tons of people, music playing, and the smell of yummy treats.
However, the goods sold at this market were pretty disappointing. If you are looking for unique, hand-made gifts, you won’t find them here. The stalls seemed to be full of mass-produced goods brought in from other countries. But, you do get the experiences of shopping at a market in a place where markets have been held since the 11th century!
For a better shopping experience try heading over to Breidelstraat or any of the other small streets off Market Square.
Get a birds-eye view from the 13th-century belfry
I am a sucker for a good view. If you are too, you NEED to climb to the top of the belfry in Market Square. The belfry rises above Market Square at 273 feet (83 meters) and dates back to the 13th Century. That means it’s around 800 years old!
The Belfry has a total of 366 steps to the top and, unfortunately, no elevator. We had heard the stairs at the top of the belfry get quite narrow and steep so we didn’t want to risk bringing our babe up the stairs in the sling and not being able to make it to the top. I had a cold and didn’t feel like I’d have the energy to make it up all 366 stairs. Therefore, I volunteered as tribute to stay down at the bottom, with our babe, while my husband hiked to the top of the belfry. You can read more in my other post about Bruges with a baby here!
My husband confirmed it would have been exhausting to carry our little one up and that the stairs were very narrow at the top. You can read more people’s experiences of climbing the belfry here.
Related Post: Top 10 hacks for exploring Bruges with a baby
PRO TIP: The line to climb the Belfry gets VERY long during Christmas. I’m talking like HOURS long. The best thing to do is get to the ticket booth about 15 minutes before opening time. We did this and my husband only waited a few minutes past opening time to get into the Belfry. You can see the current prices and opening hours here. It was also lovely because the sun was coming up over the city and Market Square was quiet, making it a beautiful time to enjoy the view.
Admire the Provincial Court Building (Provinciaal Hof):
The Provincial Court is a huge building on the east side of Market Square. So, you can’t miss it! The Provincial Court LOOKS medieval, but it was actually built in the late 1800s- early 1900s and used for government purposes.
Connected to the Provincial Court is a building from the 1900s which now holds a museum about the Middle Ages called The Historium. We didn’t go to The Historium (we didn’t go to any museums in Bruges) but this looks like a museum I would be interested in! The Historium has virtual reality experiences that look very cool! The Duvelorium is right there as well and free to access. The Duvelorium sells drinks and food and provides good views of Market Square.
2. See Christmas in Bruges from a new perspective on a canal tour
Bruges is often called ‘the Venice of the north’ because of (you guessed it) the many canals that run through the city! You can hop on a canal tour at five different docks throughout the city.
I recommend buying tickets and waiting in line at the dock located at Michielssens, Huidenvettersplein 13. This is such a scenic area with views of the canal with the belfry in the background. If you are lucky, you’ll get to hear the carillon play while waiting in line!
The 30-minute tour takes you through the different canals of Bruges while the captain points out interesting spots along the way. For example, our captain pointed out a small hospital door on the canal where patients were delivered via boat in medieval times!
Taking a canal tour was one of my favorite things we did in Bruges and I highly recommend! I also think the 30-minute-tour length is perfect if you have kids/babies. It was enough time to enjoy the ride without our babe ‘losing it’.
Related Post: Top 10 hacks for exploring Bruges with a baby
I mean, can you really say you experience a Bruges Christmas if you didn’t take a canal tour?
PRO TIP: I recommend choosing a seat at the front of the boat, right behind the captain and the speaker. That’s what we did and we were able to catch all the stories and history he was telling. Even if you get a less-than-ideal seat on the boat and don’t get to hear much, you still get to enjoy a beautiful boat ride through Bruges for only 10 EURO! You can see more about hours and pricing here.
3. Enjoy a Christmas stroll along the beautiful Bruges canal
Each morning and night we walked back to our Airbnb along the canal on Steenhouwersdijk road. This is a beautiful stretch of canal with few cars, quaint homes, and fewer crowds.
When walking this road, you will pass the old fish market. At Christmas, the old fish market was home to stalls selling art and other items.
If you keep your eyes open, you may see gorgeous swans swimming in the canal.
4. Admire Michelangelo’s work in the Church of Our Lady Bruges
The Church of Our Lady is a huge, exquisite church dating back to the 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries. The church is home to Michelangelo’s ‘Madonna and Child’ sculpture.
Entrance to the church is free, however, if you want to see the area with Michelangelo’s work, you will need to pay admission. You can learn more about hours and pricing here.
5. Enjoy the storybook-perfect atmosphere at Boniface Bridge
We stumbled upon Boniface Bridge while exploring the grounds of The Church of Our Lady. And, let me tell you, Boniface Bridge is one of THE MOST picture-perfect, most quaint, most charming, most lovely spots of Bruges.
I felt like I had found some secret area of Bruges and had to search Google afterward to see if this spot had a name. Turns out it does, and it’s Boniface Bridge!
6. Go ice skating and exploring, during Christmas in Bruges, at Minnewater Park
Ice skating at Minnewater Park has got to be the most magical thing you can do to experience Christmas in Bruges, Belgium! The ice skating rink is located next to the most picturesque little church and is lit by the most magical twinkle lights. Little stalls selling hot chocolate and other yummy treats line the rink as well.
I would have loved to ice skate, but since we had our babe with us, we opted against it. Instead, we wandered through the rest of Minnewater Park and enjoyed the nature in Bruges, Belgium.
PRO TIP: I’ve heard some say that Minnewater park is the place to go to see/feed swans. It’s true that a lot of swans hang out in one area of the park… but that small area has kind of turned into a stinky and poopy mess. There are also tons of signs asking you to not feed the swans.
I recommend walking through Minnewater Park in other areas to see swans. Or, walk the canal as I mention in the section above and keep your eyes open for swans there!
7. Take a break in Jan Van Eyck Square
Jan Van Eyck Square is on the edge of the bustling, old-town center of Bruges and some of the quieter local neighborhoods of Bruges. We found it to be a nice place to relax away from some crowds. In years past, this area functioned as a busy port loading and unloading goods from ships.
Interesting how this square used to be an area of such hustle and bustle and now it is one of the quieter areas to relax while in Bruges.
Jan Van Eyck Square is in the shadow of Poortersloge which was built in the late 1300s by some elitists in Bruges. Merchants could wait in the tower to see the arrival of their ships in the canal.
8. Savor chocolate from a local family-run business: Chocolatier Dumon
Bruges and chocolate have a history that dates back to the 1600s. The city is full of chocolatiers! I felt intimidated to know where to purchase quality, authentic chocolate.
Thankfully, I came across this guide by Rick Steves in my research. He briefly goes over the history of chocolate in Belgium and gives a deep (but easy-to-read) overview of nine different shops in Bruges.
After reading his recommendations, we chose Chocolatier Dumon to visit. I am so glad we did! The shop is run by the original Dumon family and has an inviting and warm atmosphere.
I highly recommend buying a pre-mixed box of chocolates. I wasn’t disappointed in a single piece! Which is saying something for a mixed box of chocolate (if you know what I mean). We took our box to a nice scenic area and savored each piece.
PRO TIP: We bought an additional, small mixed-box as a gift for our friends who helped us out with our pup while we were gone. Snag an extra box for someone you want to share your Bruges experience with!
9. Eat as many Belgian Waffles as you possibly can
Seriously, just eat as many Belgian Waffles as you can. Belgian Waffle shops and stands are ALL over the city. And, the fresh smell of waffles and chocolate literally wafts through the air.
We always purchased one waffle at a time and shared it… but we did that around 5-6 times during our time in Bruges! My favorite shop was Fred’s and I recommend Nutella and whipped cream as toppings. But, the traditional way of a plain waffle with sugar is also delicious and a must-try!
Try as many establishments as possible and find your own favorite!
10. Visit the ‘tea room’ of The Old Chocolate House
I possibly saved my very best tip for last. No Bruges Christmas is complete without hot chocolate at The Old Chocolate House.
The Old Chocolate House is a cozy family-run chocolate shop and tea room. The tea room is located upstairs in what feels like your grandma’s old-fashioned living room (in the best way). You can order many different treats and goodies. However, what you MUST order is their hot chocolate.
The hot chocolate is served with a cup of warm milk and a REAL chocolate balls. Then you get to mix the hard chocolate into the milk and create your own hot chocolate. It’s such a lovely experience! I have never heard of this anywhere else!
The menu has all sorts of hot chocolate concoctions. You can choose various levels of chocolate darkness and an assortment of mix-ins. I think I remember them having dairy-free milk and chocolate options as well (check beforehand)!
PRO TIP: Arrive before the tea room opens! The tea room of The Old Chocolate House is very popular. We went one morning and asked what time of day is best to get a seat in the tea room (reservations are not accepted). The tea room opens later than the main chocolate store and the employee told us to come about 15 minutes before the tea room opens (which was 11 am when we were there).
She continued saying that the room can be full sometimes 10-15 minutes after opening and you then have to wait in line for an open table. We did as she told us and arrived about 15 minutes before opening.
We were able to get a seat no problem (the room did fill up in about 20 minutes though).
Related Post: Top 10 hacks for exploring Bruges with a baby
Those are my top 10 ways to experience a medieval fairytale Christmas in Bruges, Belgium!
Please let me know if you have any questions or comments about Bruges and I’ll be sure to answer! I’m a real person who loves to talk travel 🙂